Tape-dispensing mechanism



y 1950 A. P. KRUEGER 2,507,446

TAPE DISPENSING MECHANISM Filed Aug. 26, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 1' y 1950 A. P. KRUEGER 2,507,446

TAPE DISPENSING MECHANISM Filed Aug. 26, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 y 1950 A. P. KRUEGER 2,507,446

TAPE DISPENSING MECHANISM Filed Aug. 26, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 lllllll llllllllilllllllllllll!ll 23 Patented May 9, 1950 z,so 1,44e

2,507,446 I TAPE-DISPENSING MECHANISM Alfred P. Krueger, Stratford, Conn, assignor to Derby Sealers, Incorporated, Derby. Conn., a

corporation oi Connecticut 1 t Application August 26, 1946, Serial No. 693,116

(01. ail-2.3)

v 11 Claims.

This invention relates to tape-dispensing machines, and more particularly to a device dispensing pressure-sensitive tape, sometimes known as Scotch tape.

Tape of the character referred to above is tacky or clingable upon one surface, and for this reason some difiiculty has been encountered in the past in providing a device which will draw or feed the tape from the roll and present a free end projecting from the machine, which free end could be grasped by the fingers and torn off against a tear-oil blade, or severed in some other way, and then applied to a package or other article with which the tape was to be used.

In some prior devices, the tape has been drawn from the supply roll by feeding means to which the tacky side of the tape adheres, the feeding f nieans being rotatable, or otherwise movable, to

effect the feeding of the tape clinging thereto. If the dispensed portion of the tape is to present a free end projecting from the machine, it is necessary to provide some means for stripping the tape from the feeding device, and it is contemplated by the present invention to provide a novel means for stripping the tape from the feeding means so that a positive stripping action will be effected and, at the same time, a compact arrangement of the parts may be obtained.

As illustrated, the feeding device comprises a plurality of spaced elements, such as pins, extending transversely of the tape, and connected to a rotatable support, the tacky side of the tape adhering to the pins. The stripping device, as illustrated, is likewise a rotatable member having means to engage the tacky side of the tape and strip it from the pins previously described. Moreover, the stripping meansare designed to be moved across the path or orbit of the feeding elements and are spaced to provide for movement of the latter elements therebetween. Thus the axes of the feeding and stripping devices may be placed relatively close together, it only being necessary that the path or orbit of the stripping elements extend slightly forwardly of that of the feeding elements.

Also, on account of the tacky nature of Scotch" tape, it sometimes occurs that, when it is dispensed with a free end projecting from the machine, this end, particularly of substantial length, will come in contact with and cling to a part of the dispensing device itself or the table or support upon which the machine is mounted. It is additionally contemplated by the present invention to so arranged the parts of the machine that the tape may be delivered at a position substantially forwardly of the supporting base of the device and other adjacent parts of the machine, particularly those below the point of delivery, so that, if the device is mounted adjacent the edge of a table or other support, the free end of the tape .will also lie forwardly of this support and not contact therewith so as to adhere thereto, thus rendering the device adaptable to the feedingof strips of considerable length.

One object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved device for dispensing pressure-sensitive tape.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device for dispensing pressure-sensitive tape having a feeding member to draw the tape from a supply roll and a stripping member of improved form to strip the tape from the feeding member, soas to present a free end projecting from the machine.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a machine of the character described above, of such construction that the feeding andstripping elements may be compactly arranged and in which the two devices are rotatably mounted to move past each other in overlapping paths or orbits.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a tape-dispensing machine wherein the free end of the tape delivered from the machine will be delivered in such a position that it will not come in contact with other parts of the machine or the support on which the machine is mounted.

To these and other ends the invention consists in the novel features and combinations of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompany drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a tapedispensing device embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 1 showing the opposite side of the device;

Fig. 3 is a front elevational view of the device;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on line l4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the feeding, stripping and severing devices, showing the parts in another position relative to that shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the stripping member;

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 5, showing a modified form of stripp n means;

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 7, showing the parts in another position; and

Fig. 9 is a top plan view of the feeding and stripping elements shown in Figs. 7 and 8.

To illustrate one embodiment of my invention, 1 have shown in Figs. 1 to 6 of the drawings a tape dispensing machine having a frame comprising spaced upstanding frame members land Ii, these members having secured adjacent their lower ends flanged base plates [2 and I3. The latter members may serve as the support or base for the device and are provided with bolt or screw openings l4 and 15, so that they may be secured to a counter, table, or other supporting surface, so that the machine will be securely held during its operation.

It will be noted that the frame members l0 and II are provided adjacent their upper ends with forwardly projecting portions l5 and I! which lie forwardly of the forward edges of the supporting members and which would also lie forwardly of the edge of a counter or table if the supporting members were placed adjacent the edge of the latter. As will be hereinafter explained, the free end of the tape is dispensed or discharged from this forwardly projecting portion of the frame, so that it will not come in contact with the surrounding parts of the machine or the support upon which the machine is mounted.

A shaft I8 is rotatably mounted in the frame members l0 and I I, and upon this shaft is secured a feeding member which, in this instance, comprises a disk-like member or head l9 having a plurality of feed elements, such as the pins 20, projecting axially therefrom, the pins being parallel to the axis of the shaft l8. Upon the shaft I8 is provided a pinion 22, the teeth of this pinion being in mesh with the teeth of idler gear 23 rotatably mounted on the frame member H. The teeth of this idler gearin turn mesh with the teeth of a ratchet gear 24 also rotatably mounted on the frame member H.

An operating lever 25 is pivoted on the shaft of the ratchet gear 24, this lever carrying at its rear end a pivoted pawl 26 urged into engagement with the teeth of the gear by a spring 21, one end of which is secured in a slot 28 in the pawl and the other end of which bears against a pin 29 secured upon the inner side of the lever. It will be apparent that the lever 25 has a one-way connection with the ratchet gear. That is to say, when the lever is moved in a counterclockwise direction, as shown in Fig. 1, the ratchet gear 24 will be rotated in a counterclockwise direction, and when the lever is moved in a clockwise direction the pawl will ride idly over the teeth of the gear, permitting the latter to remain at rest. A spring 30, connected at one end to a pin 3| on the frame member ll and at the other end to a pin 32 on the lever, normally urges the lever in a clockwise direction, a pin 33 secured to the frame member H in a position to engage the rear end of the lever serving as a limiting stop for the movement of the lever under the impulse of the spring.

A spindle 35 is detachably mounted in openings in the frame members Ill and II, this spindle being adapted to support the supply roll of tape 35, shown more especially in Fig. 3, the tape being mounted in a plane across which the pins 20 extend, so that when pulled from the roll the tacky surface of the tape, which usually is the inner surface, may extend across and adhere to the pins, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. Moreover, it will be clear that, when the ratchet gear 24 is moved in a counterclockwise direction as viewed, for example, in Figs. 1 and 4, likewise the shaft 18 with the feed disk I! will be moved in a counterclockwise direction and, hence, draw the tape from the roll by reason of the adherence of may also be noted that the feed member I9 is mounted in the forwardly projecting portions I8 and ll of the frame, so that the tape will be carried by the feed member to the forward end of the device or the end which overhangs or projects forwardly of the supporting base.

It will be apparent that if means were not provided to strip the tape from the feeding elements, the tape would be continuously carried about by the latter. As illustrated in this embodiment of my invention, I have provided stripping means, shown more especially in Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 6. The stripping means comprises a substantially cylindrical or hollow drum-shaped member 38 which is open at one end, and the walls of this member are provided with spaced slots or cutaway portions 39 and 40 extending through its open end. Also, on the external surface of the member are provided a plurality of annular ribs 4|, these ribs being provided with undulating or toothed peripheral edges, so that they will present a relatively small area to contact the tacky side of the tape and serve to strip it from the feed elements 20.

The base 42 of this drum member is secured to a stub shaft 43 rotatably mounted in the plate H and, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, a pinion 45 is secured upon this shaft upon the outside of the frame member. The teeth of this pinion mesh with those of an idler gear 46 rotatably carried by the frame member l0, and the teeth of the idler gear in turn mesh with those of a gear 41 secured upon the feed shaft l8 of the feed mechanism. It will be seen, therefore. that the stripping drum will be turned in the same direction as the feed disk I9, and the gear teeth are so arranged that this drum will have a greater peripheral or greater lineal speed than that of the feeding elements 20, so that, as the toothed edges of ribs 41 strip the tape from the feeding elements 20, they will in turn be stripped from the tape as they move more rapidly than the feeding speed of the tape.

As shown more particularly in Figs. 3, 5 and 6, a severing knife 48 is provided and is secured to the frame members It] and II above the stripping member and just forwardly of the feed disk l9. As illustrated, this knife is preferably arranged with its operative edge inclined with respect to the normal plane of the tape, so that it will begin to cut from one side of the latter and thus ease the cutting effort. Rearwardly of the knife is a resilient stripping plate 48 normally standing away from the severing member 48, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

It will be understood that, when the tape is fed from the machine, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the free end may be grasped by the user of the device and pulled upwardly, thus drawing the tape across the edge of the severing knife 48 resulting in the During severing of a length of the tape for use. this operation, the stripper plate 49 will be moved against the rear surface of the knife, but as soon as the tape is severed the inherent resilience of this member will effect its return to the position shown, thus stripping the supply end of the tape from the knife, so that there will be no danger of its adhering thereto.

In th operation of the machine, the supply roll of tape is placed upon the spindle 35 and a short length unrolled and applied to the pins 20, so that it will adhere thereto. Then, by manipulation of the lever 25, the feed member 19 may be advanced, thus causing the pins 20 the latter to the feed elements or pins 20. It 1b to draw the tape from the roll. It will be understood that as many strokes of the lever 25 may be made as desired before severing the tape in order that a suitable length may be supplied. The rotation of the feed shaft l8 will also effect rotation, of the stripping member v38 and, as this member rotates in the same direction as the feed member i9, it will strip the tape from the pins 20.

As shown in Fig. 5, one of the pins 20 is about to enter the stripping drum through the slot or opening 39, and another is about to leave the drum through the, slot 40. The speed of the drum and feed member are so related that by the time the pins'ill move through the drum the latter has turned one-half of a revolution, so that the pin which enters the slot 39 will also leave the drum by the same slot, and the following pin will then enter through the slot 40. As stated, however, the annular ribs 4| have a greater peripheral speed than the linear speed of the pins 20, so that the tape will be stripped from the ribs. It will also be noted that the tape is delivered from the machine in a depending relation, so that it tends to hang downwardly therefrom at a, considerable distance from the supporting bases l2 and I3, whereby it will not come into contact with the parts of the machine or the supporting table.

The modified form of my invention, shown in Figs. 7, 8, and 9, is the same as that previously described, except that a different form of stripping member is provided. In this instance, the stripping member comprises a disk 55 rotatably mounted upon the frame member Hi, this disk carrying a plurality of pins 56 which extend transversely of the tape and into the orbit of the pins 20, as shown in Fig. 9. Upon these pins are provided a plurality of annular ribs or ridges 51 to contact the tape and strip it from the feeding means. It will be noted from Figs. 7 and 8 that the spaces between certain of the pins are greater than between certain others thereof, thus leaving enlarged spaces 58 and 59 for the passage of the feeding pins 20, as shown in Fig. '7.

It will be understood that the operation of this form of my device is the same as that previously described. The annular ridges 51 provide for a relatively small contacting surface between the stripping members and the tape, but,

nevertheless, serve to strip the tape from the pins 20 for, as clearly shown in Figs. 7 and 8, the orbit of the pins 55, while overlapping that of the pins 20, extends slightly forwardly of the latter to remove the tape therefrom. In this case, the pins 58 are moved'at a slightly greater linear speed than that of the tape, so

that they will in turn be stripped from the tape,

and the speed of the stripping members is so related to the feeding elements 20 that the latter. will pass in and out through the spaces 58 and spaced longitudinally thereof to whichthe tape adheres, a rotatable stripping member mounted on an axis substantially parallel to that of said feeding member, the distance between said axes being less than the radius-s1 said feeding member, and said stripping member having spaced elements extending parallel to the first-named elements and movable between the latter.

2. In a machine for dispensing pressuresensitive tape, a frame, a feeding member of generally circular outline rotatably carried by said frame, said member having elements extending transversely of the path of the tape and spaced'longitudinally thereof to which the tape adheres, a rotatable stripping member mounted on an axis substantially parallel to that or said feeding member, the distance between said axes being less than the radial distance of said elements from the axis of the feeding member, and said stripping member having spaced elements extending parallel to the first-named elements and movable between the latter.

3. In a tape-dispensing machine, a frame, a feeding member carried by the frame having spaced elements each of which extends transversely of the tape and to which the" tape adheres, means for moving said member to effect feeding of the tape, and a rotatably mounted stripping memberv having spaced elements each of which'extends transversely of the path of the tape and is movable between the elements of said feeding member, the elements of one member overlaping those of the other member ins-a direction transverse to the path of the tape.

4. In a tape-dispensing machine, a frame, a feeding member carried by the frame having spaced elements extending transversely of the path of the tape and to which the tape adheres, means for moving said member to effect feeding of the tape, a rotatably mounted stripping member having means to engage thetape and strip it from said feeding member, and said stripping means, during the rotation of the stripping member, passing through the spaces between the elementsv of the feeding member and overlapping said elements in a direction transverse to the path of the tape.

5. In a tape-dispensing machine, a frame, a feeding member rotatably mounted on the frame, said member having a plurality of axially extending spaced elements to which the tape is adapted generally circular outline rotatably carried by said frame, said member having elements extending transversely of the path of the tape and to adhere, a rotatable stripping member mounted on an axis substantially parallel to that of the feeding member, and having stripping means extending axially into the orbit of said spaced elements and adapted to pass between the latter when both the feeding member and stripping member are rotated.

6. In a tape-dispensing machine, a frame, a feeding member rotatably mounted on the frame, said member having a plurality of axially extending spaced elements to which the tape is adapted to adhere, a rotatable stripping member mounted on an axis substantially parallel to that of the feeding member and having stripping means extending axially into the orbit of said spaced elements and in overlapping relation therewith and adapted to pass between the latter when both the feeding member and stripping member are rotated, and said stripping means beingmoved at a greater linear speed than the elements of said feeding means.

7. A device as in claim 5, wherein the stripping member comprises a hollow drum open at jecting therefrom.

9. A device as in claim 5, wherein the feedin member comprises a disk-like element, said a spaced elements comprise spaced pins projecting therefrom, the stripping member also comprises a disk-like element and the stripping means comprise spaced pins projecting therefrom, the pins of the stripping member projecting toward the pins of the feeding member and overlapping said latter pins.

10. A tape-dispensing machine comprising a frame, a feeding member rotatably carried by the frame and having spaced elements extending transversely of the path of the tape to which the tape adheres, means for rotating said element to draw the tape from a supply thereof, a rotatably mounted stripping member having spaced stripping elements extending transversely of the tape to engage the same and strip it from the feeding elements, the orbit of said stripping elements intersecting that of the feeding elements when both elements are rotated, and said stripping elements overlapping said spaced elements on the feeding member in a direction transverse to the path of the tape.

11. In a tape-dispensing machine, a frame, a feeding member carried by the frame having spaced elements extending transversely of the tape and to which the tape adheres, means for moving said member to effect feeding of the tape, and a rotatably mounted stripping member having spaced elements extending transversely of the path of the tape, the elements of one member overlapping those of the other member in a direction transverse to the path of the tape and being movable between the elements of the other member during the operation of the device.

ALFRED P. KRUEGER.

REFERENCES crrEn The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,452,621 Stephen Apr. 24, 1923 1,846,811 Link Feb. 23, 1932 1,972,850 McCarthy Sept. 4, 1934 1,972,851 McCarthy Sept. 4, 1934 2,233,361 Anderson et al. Feb. 25, 1941 2,424,486 Miller July 22, 1947 

